Apparatus for and method of boring into and treating earth material



Aug. 9, 1938. RANNEY 2,126,576 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF BORING INTO AND TREATING EARTH MATERIAL Original Filed June '7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lmli | RANNEY APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF BORING INTO AND TREATING EARTH MATERIAL Original Filed Jur le '7. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 PATENT oFFicE.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF BORING INTO AND TREATING EARTH MATERIAL Leo Ranney, Morro Bay, Calif.

Original application June I, 1935, Serial No.

Divided and this application December 21, 1936, Serial No.1l'l,099. In Great Britain July 23, 1934 32 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for and method of boring into earth material and treating such material involving a boring operation,

for example, for the purpose of excavating or placing tubes in earth formations or for consolidating earth material or for the purpose of iorming underground tunnels for general use, or for creating high porosities in given areas of unconsolidated earth material.

. This application is a division of my application No. 25,482 filed June 7, 1935.

The object of the .invention is to provide a I method and apparatus which will permit of these operations being carried out expeditiously and efiiciently.

The invention comprises apparatus for boring into earth material comprising an outer pipe or tube having, at the advance end thereof, a perforated boring head and having within it an imperforate pipe arranged in spaced relationship with respect to the inner surface of the outer pipe and in communication withthe boring head.

The invention also consists in apparatus according to the preceding paragraph wherein the outer pipe is perforated.

The invention also consists in apparatus ac-' cording to the preceding paragraphs wherein an annular space intervenes between the outer and inner pipes.

The invention also consists in apparatus according to the preceding paragraph wherein the outer pipe is perforated and means is provided within the annular space at the rear end of the boring unit adapted to form a seal against the passage toward that end of material which enters the annular space; and method of operating the same.

The invention also consists in apparatus according to the preceding paragraphs embodying the further features hereinafter described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional view i1- lustrating one mode of projecting apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a detail;

Figs. 3 and 3a are fragmentary longitudinal sections of the apparatus.

Figs. 4 to '7 are views of the boring head of the apparatus, and

Fig.- 8 isa longitudinal fragmentary section of a modified form of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the driving head or block.

In carrying the invention into eifect in one convenient manner as applied, for example, to apparatus intended for use in the projection of tubes intothe earth or to the removal of earth material from a desired area, an excavation, chamber or shaft L, such as that shown in my co-pending application 25,482 is provided in the ground, and the boring apparatus, indicated generally by the reference 5 in Fig. 1, is projected laterally outward fromthe shaft so as to extend into the stratum from which it is desired to errcavate or into which a tube is to be projected.

The boring apparatus in the particular example illustrated consists of an outer longitudinally perforated pipe 6 (Figs. 3 and 3a) which may be built up from sections coupled together from the inside of the shaft, by having screwed sliding or other connections with each other for instance, and the forward end of such pipe carries a boring head 1 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8) which is preferably of generally hollow conical formation andis slotted to permit fine material, such as sand, to enter the interior of the boring head during the boring operation.

The boring head may have a series of circumferential slots 8 near the pointed end thereof, each of which slots may extend lengthwise of the boring head and be bounded upon each longitudinal side with a shaft longitudinal projecting ridge 9 provided upon the outside surface of the boring head. At its ends each ridge is reduced to the general level of the outer surface of the head by a gradual taper or slope l0. These ridges, besides assisting in the boring operation, also serve to lift the stones encountered during the boring operation and permit of the fine material, such as sand, to pass freely through the slots 8 into the interior of the boring head. The slots in the boring head may be formed with their side walls H (Figs. 6 and 7) inclined so that the slots gradually widen from the outside of the boring head toward the inside thereof and also from the ends thereof next to the pointed end of the boring head toward the ends thereof remote from the said pointed end. The purpose of the former inclination of the longitudinal sides of the slot 8 is to facilitate the passage of the fine material into the interior of the boring head, while the purpose of the latter inclination of these sides of the slots is to promote a passage of any stones which may lodge within the slots along the latter toward the wide end of the slots where the stones encounter an inclined surface I! (Fig. 4) provided at this end of each slot, and which surface tends to lift the stones out of the way as the boring head is advanced. The boring head may also be formed with a further series of circumferential longitudinal slots I! (Fig. 5) nearer to the wide end of the boring head than the other slots and staggered with relation thereto. At the lower end of each of these further slots there may be provided a ridge H projecting outwardly from the general level of the outer surface of the head, the side of the ridge facing toward the point of the head being formed as a gradual incline with respect to the surface of the head. This ridge serves to lift the gravel as the boring head is advanced and so promotes a free passage of the sand through the top slots. The high end of each of these slots I! may also be formed at the top thereof with an inclined surface Ila which tends to lift any stones which may lodge within the slots and which encounter this inclined surface as the boring head is advanced.

Water may also flow into the boring head with the flne material and during the projection of the perforated pipe 6 (Fig. 3) an imperforate pipe I! is accommodated within the latter. This interior imperforate pipe I, which may also be built up from sections, is detachably connected at its forward end with the interior of the boring head I while its rear end extends into the central chamber or shaft i into which the sand and water is discharged from the said pipe during the boring operation, and pumped to the surface. This imperforate pipe therefore serves for the removal of the fine material and the water (sand and water) which enters the boring head during the boring operation and when the boring operation has been completed, which will be when a sufficient length of perforated pipe 6 has been projected from the excavation or shaft; then the imperforate interior pipe [I is disconnected from the boring head I and is withdrawn from the perforated pipe, which is then open.

If, during the projecting operation, the mouth of the boring head becomes clogged with clay or stones, for example, or if it is desired to wash the gravel, sand, clay or like material, or if an obstruction is encountered, a jet of water may be forced through the imperforate pipe and the slots in the boring head.

An annular chamber 22 (Fig. 3) is formed between the interior sand discharge pipe I! and the exterior pipe 6, which chamber serves to accominside of the outer pipe and the interior of the shaft or chamber and thus ensures that the full head of water outside the shaft may be utilized to flush the material. from the boring head through the interior discharge pipe and into the shaft or excavation for subsequent removal therefrom.

This packing sleeve may be slidably mounted upon the outside of the sand discharge pipe and be provided on its outer periphery with one or more resilient rings 24, of rubber for instance, disposed longitudinally of the sleeve within annular recesses 25 thereon, the rings being held in these recesses by means of metal rings or wire 28, for example, wound tightly around the outer periphery of a portion of each ring which is of reduced diameter and which reduced portion is followed by an outwardly flared free portion 24b the external diameter of which is normally greater than the internal diameter of the perforated pipe, so that this free portion engages tightly along the outer peripheral surface with the inside of the perforated pipe. The outwardly flared portions 24b of the resilient rings upon the sliding packing sleeve are directed towards the forward end of the collecting or discharge head, and the arrangement is such that, when building up each tube, pipe or screen from sections of perforated and imperforate pipes as each set of sections is secured to the previously projected set, the packing together with the resilient rings carried thereby can be retracted along the previously projected imperforate pipe section so as to engage with the new set of pipe sections within the central shaft.

The sliding packer or packing sleeve, at its forward end, may be fitted with a further stuffing box or resilient ring 21 (Fig. 3a), of rubber for example, which has an inwardly directed free hollow conical portion 21a adapted to maintain a fluid tight joint with the inner or sand pipe. The outer or perforated and inner or imperforate pipes, together with the sliding packing sleeve thereon, may be passed through common stuffing boxes or through stuffing boxes 28 (Fig. 2) provided around the shaft openings 3 (Fig. 1), and such stufllng boxes may each be fitted with an internal resilient ring 28 having a forwardly directed free conical portion 29a adapted to engage tightly with the exterior of the outer pipe 6 as the same is projected through its shaft opening and thereby seal the interior of the shaft against the ingress of water thereinto from the neighboring stratum outside the pipe 6 and outside the shaft. Each stuiflng box may consist of a sleeve 28 which, at its forward end, is screwed into a sleeve 30 projecting slightly beyond each shaft opening and is secured to the latter, by welding for example, and this second sleeve may be fitted with a wooden plug or a screw plug 4 which is ejected from the sleeve by engagement of the boring head therewith when the latter is projected at the commencement of the boring operation. Or the sleeve 28 and/or 30 may be cast in concrete, if the shaft is lined with that material. The sleeve of the stufflng box may be formed in two parts 28, 28a connected together by an outer collar 28b so as to grip between them the side packing ring 29. Or the packing may be flanged and bolted to a flange on the sleeve 28. By providing for the maintenance of fluid tight joints between the moving parts of the boring unit formed by the inner and outer pipes and the boring head above described it is ensured that the full head of the water inside the shaft is utilized to flush the sand from the boring head through the sand discharge pipe and into the interior of the shaft or chamber. When an outer pipe or a perforated screening pipe has been projected to the desired extent, the sand discharge pipe associated therewith is disconnected from the boring head, and withdrawn from the perforated screening pipe which may then be flushed and backwashed to remove therefrom, and from the gravel surrounding the outside of the screening pipe, any remaining sand, so as to leave a gravel pack around the outside of the outer or screening pipe' The rear end of each pipe may be provided with a valve 3| (Fig. ,1) whereby the flow of the water along each such pipe during or after the propipe after the removal of the sand discharge pipe.

When boring into exceptionally tine material, such as running sand, it may be desirable to provide a valve 35, (Fig. 4) within the boring head which closes to prevent ingress of sand when the sand discharge pipe has been withdrawn from the screening pipe. Under such conditions, during the boring operation, the forward end ht oi the sand discharge pipe may be formed to proled: into the interior of the boring head where it holds the valve it within the latter open, against the action oi a spring the, in order to permit the sand and water to how through the discharge pipe during such operation. This valve may consist oil a plate pivoted at the to the inside oi the hollow interior oi the boring head, and when the sand discharge pipe is withdrawn the valve automatically closes, by the action of its spring, the opening within the boring head by which the latter may have communication with the sand discharge pipe.

The, iorward end oi the send discharge pipe it may be formed with an externally screw-thread ed portion the (Fig. do) for engagement with an internally screw-threaded bore idle (Fig. i) at the wide end of the boring head and which bore communicates with the hollow interior oi the bor ing head. This bore may be provided with an extension fill of the wide end oi the boring end which is of reduced dieter than that of such wide end and this extension may be screw threaded externally, as indicated at to, to receive a cor respondingly threaded portion tab on the iorward end of the outer pipe or the perforated screening pipe, which, when screwed in position upon the boring head, may shut against the peripheral portion tll oi the wide end oi the boring head which projects beyond such extension. The en ternal diameter oi the outer pipe is preferably oi less diameter than that of the wide end oi the boring head in order that friction upon this tube may be relieved.

in some cases, particularly when boring into line sand, the screening pipe may he provided within another screening pipe iii (Figs. 3 and 30 having fine slots or slits longitudinally -thereol and preferably in staggered spaced relationship.

To transmit the pressure from the driving jaclts (not shown) to the advancing boring unit a driving bloclr (Fig. 9) is employed. Pressure is applied at the right end of the body it, the left end engaging the driving nipple which engages the pipe ll. nlisnment may be maintained by an inner sleeve iii. The tree end oi the inner pipe ill may enter the sleeve it and discharge through the passage ill at the side of the driving block. Passage it may have a control valve at the outer end thereof where pressure or vacuum may be applied for transmission. to the pipe it. A resilient terial is passed through the inner pipe it to a point of easy accessibility. The material adjacent to the path of the outer pipe is loosened and the remaining material is selectively deposited about the pipe which is advanced to occupy all or part of the space in the earth created by the removal the unit, provision may be made for the selective removal of additional material alongthe length of the unit as it advances, both to facilitate the advancement and to increase the porosity of the material adjacent to the pipe or cylinder. To facilitate the removal of material through the innor pipe ll utilize the head of water in the earth to carry the material along. I may, as desired, introduce a stopper or check into the rear end of the inner pipe to check the flow of water therethrough. when the head of water is insuilicient, a vacuum may be applied to the inner pipe through the passage It (Fig. 9) this vacuum being transmitted to the opening in the boring head through which the material enters the inner pipe and out into the material to increase the head and flow of water.

Ordinarily, the finer material is removed from the path of the advancing unit to leave the coarser material (gravel, stones and the like) deposited along the outer tube thereof, thus increasing the porosity oi the ground adjacent to the outer tube. To separate the fine material from the coarse the whole body of material in the path oi the unit and adjacent thereto may be kept in motion while such separation is being made. The coarse material expands or is moved outward by engagemeat with the cone-shaped or tapering boring head l while the line material is carried inwards, through the pores of the coarse material, by the action oi the water entering the discharge conduit. The outer pipe itself may be imperforate, but is preferably perforated along all or part of its length, especially near the forward end. Fine material which does not enter through the holes in the conical head of the advancing tube is thus allowed to enter the outer pipe along its length, the forward motion of the pipe through the earth causing the gravel stones to roll where in contact with this pipe. This rolling motion sepcrates the sand from the gravel and allows it to pass through the perforations and into the outer pipe, from which all or part may be removed through the inner discharge conduit pipe in the manner described later. Any part not so removed is washed from the outer pipe later, for example, by water or air. Sand may be removed from the outer pipe periodically to ease the pressure of the earth and facilitate the iorward motime of the boring unit. Ordinarily most of the material rejected by the slots of thebcring head is also rejected by the slots of the screen pipe, the latter slots preferably being the narrower.

When obstacles, such as boulders, are encountered by the boring unit, they are undermined, dug around and dislodged by the removal of material thereabout, after which the advancement oi the unit continues. In cases where the simple removal oi material by the flow of water, under its own head and the added artificialhead caused by the vacuum applied, is impossible or impractical. then water may be forced under pressure out through the material-inlet holes at the forward end of the advancing unit and thus remove sufficient material to allow the pipe to push its way past the obstruction. Such removed material may pass into the outer pipe throughthe perfcratlons in the wall thereof.

The direction taken by the forward end of the advancing boring unit may be changed by removing more earth material, from the side of the outer pipe toward which it is desired that the unit should incline. For examp1e,lf it is desired that the unit should bear downward, more material is removed from the .underside, at or near the forward end of the boring head by, for example, providing the latter with larger slots in the bottom thereof. If, on the other hand, it is desired that the forward end of the pipe should incline upwards, more material is removed from above the path of the pipe, at or near the forward end thereof by closing or reducing the slots on the under side of the boring head. To remove more material from one side, more or larger slots or openings are provided in that side of the boring head or the outer pipe. Conversely, to remove less material from a side, the openings may be made fewer or smaller on that side.

If it is desirable to render impermeable (to water) the formation adjacent to the outside of the boring unit, clay, cement or like material is injected through the discharge conduit at that point, before further advancing or withdrawing the cylinder. Or the material is forced outward through the perforations in the wall of the cylinder. To anchor the end of the unit, sufllcient cement or like material is injected through the discharge conduit to form the desired anchor. To build a solid wall about the advanced unit, cement or the like is injected through the holes in the outer wall thereof and into thesurrounding earth material which has been made more porous by the removal of part thereof. This wall may be made of any desiredthickness. After injection the cement or other material is allowed to harden or solidify. To build a relatively large impervious or solid structure about the boring unit the same is advanced more slowly, all necessary means being used to remove the finer earth material and thus greatly increase the porosity of the ground for a considerable distance from the tube. The pores of the ground surrounding the unit are then impregnated with cement, clay or asphalt or the like for a considerable distance around the tube. Two or more units may be placed near enough together so that the impregnation from one meets the impregnation from the other. When three or more of such units, properly spaced, are made, the earth material surrounded by the group may be excavated to form a tunnel or shaft. Where a tunnel or shaft of relatively small diameter is desired or the earth material permits, the outer pipe of the unit is used for such shaft or tunnel. Or where a somewhat larger shaft or tunnel is desired, enough cement, clay, asphalt or like material is injected out into the formation surrounding the unit so that the desired shaft or tunnel may be driven into the said injected material after it has. solidified.

An apparatus suitable for the purpose of carrying out the operations above described is illustrated in Fig. 8 and. comprises an outer tube or pipe 50 which is pushed into the earth material, said pipe being formed preferably in sections that may be Joined together, and being either plain or having perforations 59 along its length, particularly near the forward end. The pipe may be made from metal, concrete, wood or the like.

At the forward end of the pipe 88 there is provided a boring head 0. adapted to move forof the apertures on one side of'the central axis of the head causes the head and the pipe to veer away in the opposite direction. The apertures for the admission of material may have vanes, ridges-or bosses l2 thereabout to lift the coarser material away from the head and allow the fine material thereamong to pass therefrom and into the apertures along with the water flowing therethrough. The head maybe slightly larger in diameter than the pipe attached at the rear thereof. In the construction illustrated a large aperture '3 is provided at any point at the rear end of the head to co-operate with the inner pipe I which conducts water and earth material the pipe so and is disposed within the same, and

the inner pipe leads to a point where earth ma terial removed therethrough may be discharged. The forward end of the pipe N may be connected at its forward end directly to the boring head, so that earth material entering through the apertures of the head passes directly therefrom into and along the inner pipe. When desired a vacuum may be applied at the rear end of the inner pipe. Also, when desired, a strong current of fluid or Jet of water may be passed through the interior of the inner pipe for election into or against the earth material, to dislodge, break up or rearrange the same.

At one or more points along the inner pipe, and particularly at a point therealong just at-the rear of the boring head, there may be provided one or more portholes 65 which may be opened and closed at will, for example, by sliding the pipe conduit backwards and forwards. The opening of the ports permits the escape of sand from the interior of the outer pipe 5! into the inner pipe 64 and therethrough to a point of easy accessibility. This action relieves the pressure on the boring unit in that vicinity and consequently throughout the length of the unit being advanced. If the unit is being pushed horizontally, the end thereof may be made to rise by leaving the portholes in the inner pipe open during the pushing operation, since a large amount of sand (all fromthe top side because of gravity) will enter this pipe and pass out the rear end thereof. Since a much smaller amount of sand is being removed from below the unit; the same will, as stated, accordingly rise.

My invention may also be used to remove silt from reservoirs or to remove sand or silt from river beds, lake beds, canals, harbors, docks and the like. In such cases the entire unit or desired parts thereof may be left intact for further periodic use. I may agitate the silt by forcing a strong current of fluid thereinto, either through the outer or the inner pipe of the unit or otherwise. In desilting a reservoir I may utilize the head of water in the reservoir to expel the silt therefrom.

It will be seen therefore that the invention is not restricted in its application to the projection of tubes but that the invention may be otherwise applied such, for instance, for the other purposes above mentioned. i

For instance by the use of the invention lt'ls possible to push sewer pipes through soil, clay, ballast or the like under a street, and likewise telephone and cable conduits, without disturbing the soil or foundations of nearby buildings.

A further application of the invention as above described consists in consolidating gravel and sand so that tunnels or shafts may be driven through the same without the usual use of compressed air.

With the present invention a screen pipe may be pushed out into the sand and ballast and enough of the fine material withdrawn during the projecting process to increase the porosity of the surrounding material in some cases to 40 percent or 45 percent, consisting mainly of stones often a half inch in diameter and upwards. Grout, clay, asphalt or other material may be forced out through the apertures of the screen pipe into this material and the material thus solidified, stiffened, hardened or made impermeable.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a zone of normal atmospheric pressure, comprising a casing, a hydraulic seal therein, a non-rotating outer perforated tube extending through said seal and having at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head fixed on said tube and closed against the interior of the tube, and an inner pipe spaced from the outer tube to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head.

2. An apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer tube is perforated along a large part of its length.

3. An apparatus for boringinto earth material as claimed in claim 1, in which means are provided to maintain a fluid-tight joint between the outer tube and the inner pipe near the inner accessible end thereof.

4. An apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 1. in which a stuihng boxencircles the outside of the outer tube near its inner accessible end to prevent the escape of earth water thereabout at that point.

5. An apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner pipe is perforated with one or more portholes communicating with theinterior of the outer tube.

6. An apparatus for boring into earth material, as claimed, in claim 1, in which the outer tube is enclosed by a thin perforated covering spaced from the tube.

'7. A method of forcing a sectional tube with a perforated boring head at the forward end substantially horizontally into the earth from" a place subjected to substantially normal atmospheric pressure, comprising exerting pressure on one end of the tube to advance the same without rotation, selectively extracting earthmaterial from the path of the tube, discharging extracted material through the tube entirely by fluid pressure, displacing the material not extracted from the path of the tube by mechanically crowding said material to one side of said path, depositing said displaced material along and outside the tube and subsequently adding sections as the tube is advanced.

8. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim '7, and constantly expanding the body of material in the path of the tube as the same is advanced.

9. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim '7, in. which the body of material in the path of the tubeis constantly expanded and, simultaneously, the finer particles in said body are withdrawn therefrom and discharged through the tube.

10. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim 7, in which the.

discharged material is isolated from other material in the tube.

ll. A method of forcing a sectional tube into 13. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim '7, in which the discharged material is isolated from the other material in the tube, and said other material is positively retained in the tube as desired.

14. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim '7, in which earth water is prevented from leaving the earth by flowing therefrom on the outside of the tube.

15. A method of forcing a sectional non-rotating tube into the earth, comprising exerting pressure on one end of the tube, maintaining a closure against the interior of the tube at the forward end of the tube, forcing an isolated current of fluid through material in said tube and through said closure, directing said isolated current against material in the. path of the tube, washing the fines of said material away from said path, forming a loosened area about said path of greater diameter than the outside of the tube, mechanically forcing out of said path the mate rial not washed therefrom and subsequently adding sections as the tube is advanced.

16. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim 15, in which material dislodged by the isolated current enters the tube through the wall thereof.

17. A method of forcing a sectional tube into the earth as claimed in claim 7, thereby forming a body of stones about said tube more porous than the adjacent undisturbed earth, and impregnating said so-formed porous body with a fluid other than earth water passed out through the wall of the tube, and impregnating said deposited material with a plastic or solidifying fluid passed out through the wall of the tube.

18. A method of forcing a sectional tube into earth material as claimed in claim 7, and controlling the direction taken by the tube, by extracting more or less material from the ground adjacent to one side thereof. g

19. A method of desilting reservoirs comprising projecting into the silt of said reservoir from a point below the water level of said reservoir, said point being normally subject to atmospheric pressure, a non-rotating, perforated tube with a conical head immovably fixed to the forward end thereof, with said head mechanically pushing aside from the path of the tube the large bodies in said silt, forcing a strong current of water through said tube and its perforations into the silt to agitate the same, and removing said silt through the perforations and the tube under hydraulic pressure of the water in the reservoir.

20. An apparatus for boring into earth material from a zone of normally atmospheric pressure comprising a casing, a hydraulic seal in said casing, an outer non-rotating perforated tube extending through said seal and having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head for withdrawing sand or the like from the vicinity of the boring head, said fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof, a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube. and an inner pipe extending throughout the length of said tube and spaced from the outer tube to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the' boring head. said outer tube,-

inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly together as a unit, and means for controlling the flow from the sand discharge pip 22. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a zone of normally atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, and an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, and a driving block to transfer pressure to the tube, said driving block designed to accommodate the free end of the inner pipe.

23. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a zone of normally atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, and an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with "the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, a driving block to transfer pressure to the tube, saiddriving block designed to accommodate the free end of the inner pipe, and a seal between the inner pipe and the driving block.

24. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a zone of normaliy'atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, and an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passag'e thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, a driving block to transfer pressure to the tube, said driving block designed to accommodate the free end of the inner pipe, and means to divert the contents issuing from the inner pipe out through the side of the driving block.

25. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a 'zone of normally atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer arcane perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, and

an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage .thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, saidouter tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, and means at the'accessible end of the inner pipe to direct a flow of fluid thereinto and therefrom.

26. An apparatus for boring into earth material from a zone of normally atmospheric pressure comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advance end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, and an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, and means for controlling the iiow from the sand discharge pipe,

I and means for restricting the opening from said pipe when it is desirable to produce less earth material therefrom and for enlarging said opening when a heavier flow of earth liquid is desired.

27. An apparatus for boring substantially horimntally into earth material from a zone of nor-. mally atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto at the advanced end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, an inner pipe throughout the length of the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, means at the accessible end of the sand discharge pipe to direct a flow of liquid thereinto and therefrom, and means for varying the pressure on the contents of said inner pipe.

28. An apparatus for boring substantially horizontally into earth material from a zone of normally atmospheric pressure, comprising an outer perforated non-rotating tube having fixed thereto atthe advance end thereof a perforated boring head closed against the interior of the tube, an inner pipe throughout the length of 'the outer tube and spaced therefrom to provide a free passage thereabout communicating through said closure with the apertures in the boring head, said outer tube, inner pipe and boring head being designed to move forwardly as a unit, means at the accessible end of the sand discharge pipe to direct a flow of liquid thereinto and therefrom, and means for alternately increasing and decreasing the pressure on the contents of said inner pipe.

29. In an apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 22, including a barrier to retain the fluid in the annular space between the outer tube and the inner pipe.

30. In an apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 22, including a movable barrier to retain fluid in the annular space between the outer tube and the inner pipe, said barrier slidable upon the inner pipe.

31. In an apparatus for boring into earth material as claimed in claim 22, including a movable barrier to retain fluid in the annular space between the outer tube and the inner pipe, said gnome barrier'adapted to be held in position by th inner .pipe.

32. In an apparatus for boring into earth materlal as claimed in claim 22, including a mov- 5 able barrier to retain the fluid in the annular space between the outer tube and the inner pipe,

said barrier compriaing a series 0! cup: the free ends of which are directed toward the boring head and are held in contact with the interior 

